Aberlemno

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Aberlemno is a parish and small village in the Scottish council area of Angus. It is famous for three large carved Pictish stones (and one fragment) dating from the 7th and 8th centuries (Historic Scotland; the stones can be viewed at any time in spring-autumn, but are covered by wooden boxes in the winter to prevent frost damage). Two stones (and the fragment) stand by the B9134 Forfar-Brechin road, the Kirkyard Stone stands in the nearby graveyard of the parish church.

The eastern stone (fragment) is unmarked.

The centre stone is a Class I (unshaped, incised) standing stone with three deeply incised Pictish symbols on one face: the serpent, the double disc and Z-rod and the mirror and comb. The meaning of these symbols is unknown. The other face of the stone exhibits prehistoric cup marks, showing that it has been re-used.

The Western Stone is a Class 2 stone showing a Celtic Cross on one side, and a battle scene on the reverse.

The Kirkyard Stone is another Class 2 stone, the West face is inscribed with a Celtic Cross flanked by patterns, the east with a battle scene, reputedly depicting the battle of Nechtansmere. A hole has been bored through the upper part of the stone some time after its sculpting.